Acts 16:13-15

To the riverside. The Gangas, a small river. A Jewish place for prayer. Evidently, there was no synagogue. A few devout Jews, mostly women, met on the river banks to worship God. And talked to the women. Some of these may have been "Gentiles converted to Judaism." Lydia is a Greek name. Thyatira is in the province of Asia, some hundreds of miles distant. Purple goods were valuable luxury items. Since Thyatira was a Macedonian colony. Lydia may have had relatives here in Philippi. And the Lord opened her mind. "The Holy Spirit produces faith through the message." To open is the Lord's part; to pay attention was her part (Romans 10:17). Compare Ephesians 1:18: Acts 17:3. Were baptized. This was always done immediately. Early Christians viewed baptism as participating in the death of Christ (see note on Colossians 2:12). The people of her house would be her servants and friends. She was a business woman who sold purple goods, therefore wealthy. Then she invited us. This is an offer of support. Paul did not usually take financial help from his converts (Acts 20:33; 2 Corinthians 12:17), but this time he was persuaded (compare Luke 8:1-3).